WHAT IS CANCER?

Ms. Kannika
Oncology Social
Worker
 CONTENT
 Possible causes/Risk factor
 Screening test
 Symptoms

 Diagnosis

 Treatment
 UNDERSTANDING CANCER
 Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that
form tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the
body.

 Cell: Normally Cells grow and divide to form new

cells as the body needs them. When cells grow
old, they die, and new cells take their place.

 Cancer: Sometimes, this orderly process goes

wrong. New cells form when the body does not
need them, and old cells do not die when they
should. These extra cells can form a mass of
tissue called a growth or Tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant:
 Benign tumors are not cancer:

 Benign tumors are rarely life threatening.

 Generally, benign tumors can be removed, and

they usually do not grow back.

 Cells from benign tumors do not invade the

tissues around them.

 Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other

parts of the body.

 Malignant tumors are cancer:

 Malignant tumors are generally more serious than

benign tumors. They may be life threatening.
 Malignant tumors often can be removed, but

sometimes they grow back.

 Cells from malignant can invade and damage

nearby tissues and organs.

 Cells from malignant tumors can

spread(metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Cancer cells spread by breaking way from the
original(primary) tumor and entering the blood
stream or lymphatic system. These cells can
invade other organs, forming new tumors that
damage these organs.
 Benign Tumor- Malignant
Normal cell- Cancer cell Tumor
 MOST CANCERS ARE NAMED FOR
WHERE THEY START
 Lung cancer starts in the lungs
 Brest cancer starts in the breast

 Lymphoma cancer starts in lymphatic

system.
 Leukemia cancer starts in white blood cells

(Leukocytes)
NEW TUMORS OR METASTATIC DISEASE
When cancer spreads and forms a new tumor in
another
part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of
abnormal cells and the same name as the primary
tumor.

For Example: If prostate cancer spreads to the

bones, the
cancers cells in the bines are actually prostate cancer
cells. The disease is metastatic prostate cancer, not
bone
cancer. For that reason, it is treated as prostate
cancer,
not bone cancer
 CAUSES/RISK FACTOR
Often cannot explain why one person develops
cancer
and other does not. But research shows following
risk
factors:
 Growing older:- Most cancers occur in people over the
age of 65. But people of all age including children, can get
cancer, too.

 Tobacco

 Sunlight:- Ultraviolet(UV) radiation comes from the sun,

sunlamps and tanning booths. It causes skin cancer.
 Ionizing

Radiation :-
This kind of radiation
comes from rays that
enter the earth’s
atmosphere from outer
space such as
radioactive
fallout( nuclear power
plants, testing, use of
atomic weapons), radon
gas( forms in soil and
rocks- people who
works in mines), X-rays(
Radiology)
 Certain chemicals and other substances:- People
who have certain jobs painters, construction workers and
those in the chemical industry. Chemicals such as
benzene, Benzedrine, cadmium, nickel can cause cancer.

 Some viruses and bacteria:-

 Human papilloma viruses (HPVs): cause of cervical
cancer.
 Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses: cause of liver
cancer.
 Human T- cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV- 1):
increase risk lymphoma and leukemia
 Human Immunodeficiency virus(HIV): cause of
lymphoma and rear cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma.
 Epstein – Barr virus (EBV): increased risk of lymphoma
 Human herpes virus 8 (HHV8): cause of Kaposi's
sarcoma
 Helicobacter pylori: stomach cancer and lymphoma in
the stomach lining.
 Certain hormones
 Family history of cancer

 Alcohol

 Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being

overweight
 SCREENING TESTS
CANCER TREATMENT IS MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN THE DISEASE IS FOUND EARLY.

 Breast:
Toll used is
mammogram. It is
picture of the breast
made with X-rays.
 Cervix:
The Pap test/Pap
smear/ The doctors
scrapes a sample f
cells from the
cervix. A lab checks
the cells for cancer.
 Colon and
Rectum:
Fecal occult blood
test: Sometimes
cancer or polyps
bleed. Helps to
detect tiny amounts
of blood in the stool.
 Sigmoidoscopy :
Help to examine
inside the rectum
and lower part of
the colon with a
lighted tube called
sigmoidoscope.
 Colonoscopy:
Help to examine
inside the rectum
and entire colon
using a long, lighted
tube called a
colonoscope.
Colon Colon Cancer
 Double :-
Contrast barium
enema: This
procedure involves
several X- rays of
the colon and
rectum. The patient
is given an enema
with barium
solution, and air is
pumped into the
rectum. It will help
to the X- ray images
of the colon and
rectum.
 Digital rectal
exam:
The health care
providers inserts a
lubricated, gloved
finger into the
rectum to feel for
abnormal areas.. It
allows to examine
only the lowest part
of the rectum.
 SYMPTOMS
Cancer can cause many different symptoms.
 A thickening or lump in the breast or any other

part of the body

 A new mole or a change in an existing mole

 A sore that does not heal

 Hoarseness or a cough that does not go away

 Change in bowel or bladder habits

 Discomfort after eating

 A hard times swallowing

 Weight gain or loss with no known reason

 Unusual bleeding or discharge

 Feeling weak or very tired

 DIAGNOSIS
 Lab tests : blood, urine or other fluids
 Imaging Procedure: X0- rays, CT scan,

radionuclide scan, ultrasound, MRI, PET scan

 Biopsy- The doctor removes a sample of tissue

and sends it to a lab. A pathologist looks at the

tissue under a microscope. The samples may
be removed in several ways:
- With a needle: needle to withdraw tissue or
fluid.
- With an endoscope: Thin, lighted tube( an
endoscope) to look at areas inside the body
and remove tissue or cells through the tube.
- With surgery: surgery may be excisional or
incisional.
In an excisional biopsy, the surgeon removes the
entire tumor.
In an incisional biopsy , the surgeon removes jus
part of the
tumor.

Staging:
The stage (extent) is based on the size if the tumor
and
whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or
other parts
of the body
 TREATMENT METHODS
 Surgery
 Chemotherapy (mouth or through vein given

in cycles)
 Radiation Therapy ( high energy rays to kill

cancer cells)
 Some involves Hormone Therapy or

 Biological Therapy

 In addition stem cell transplantation may be

used so that a patient can receive very high

doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Chemotherapy Radiation therapy
 TREATMENT MAY WORK IN A
SPECIFIC AREA
 Local Therapy removes or destroys cancer
in just one part of the body. Surgery to
remove a tumor, radiation shrink or destroy
is local therapy.

 Systemic therapy sends drugs or

substances through the bloodstream to
destroy cancer cells all over the body. TI kills
or slows the growth of cancer cells that may
have spread beyond the original tumor.
Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and
biological therapy.
 RADIATION THERAPY
 External radiation: The radiation comes from a large
machine outside the body. Patient go to a hospital or clinic
for treatment 5 days a week for several weeks.

 Internal Radiation: (implant radiation or brachytherpy):

The radiation comes from radioactive materials placed in
seeds, needles, or thin plastic tubes that are put in or near
the tissues. The patient usually stays in the hospital. The
implant generally remain in place for several days.

 Systemic radiation: The radiation comes fro liquid or

capsules containing radioactive material that travels
throughout the body. The patient swallows the liquid or
capsules or receives an injection. This type of radiation
therapy can be used to treat cancer or control pain from
cancer that has spread to the bone.
 CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS
 Blood cells: when drug damage healthy blood
cells, you are more likely to get infections, to
bruise or bleed easily and to feel very weak
and tired
 Cells in hair roots: chemotherapy can cause

hair loss. Your hair will grow back, bur it nay

be somewhat different in color and texture.
 Cells that line the digestive tract:

chemotherapy can cause poor appetite,

nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, mouth and lip
sores.
 Some drugs can affect fertility.

 Side effects can be distressing and temporary.

 HORMONE THERAPY
Some cancers need hormones to grow. it is systemic
therapy.
Hormone therapy uses drugs or surgery:
 Drugs: that stops the production of certain hormones or

prevents the hormones from working.

 Surgery: removes organs (such as the ovaries' or

testicles) that make hormones.

The side effects depend on the type of therapy. weight gain,

hot flashes, nausea and change in fertility
In women, menstrual period sop or irregular, cause vaginal
dryness
In men, incapacity, loss of sexual desire, and breast growth
and tenderness.
 BIOLOGICAL THERAPY
 It helps the immune system fight cancer.

For example, certain patients with bladder caber receive BCG

solution after surgery. The doctor uses a catheter to put the
solution
in the bladder. The solution contains live, weakened bacteria that
stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells.
Most other types of biological therapy are given through a vein,
travels through the blood stream.

Side effects such as changes in blood pressure, breathing

problems,
Rash where the therapy is injected, fever, chills, headache,
muscle
ache, fatigue, weakness, nausea
 STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION
Transplantation of blood- forming stem cells enables patients to
receive
high does of chemo, radiation or both. The high doses destroy both
Cancer cells and normal blood cells in the bone marrow. After the
treatment, the patient receives healthy, blood- forming stem cells
through a flexible tube placed in a large vein. New blood cells
develop
from the transplanted stem cells. Stem cells may be taken from the
patient before the high dose of treatment or they may come from
another person.

The side effects include infection and bleeding In addition , graft-

versus
host disease(GVHD) may occur in people who receives stem cells
from a
donor. It affects liver, skin or digestive tract.
 COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE
 Massage therapy,
 Herbal products,

 Vitamins or special diet,

 Mediation

 Spiritual healing
 HEALTH CARE TEAM
 Doctors- Surgeon, medical oncologists,
hematologists, radiation oncologists.
 Nurses

 Radiographer

 Social Workers:/counselor talk about your

feeling and concerns

 Spiritual person
 DEFINITIONS

 Leukemia: Cancer that starts in blood

forming tissue such as h bone marrow-
(blood cells producer)

 Leukocyte: A white blood cell. Refers to a

blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin.
Whit blood cells include lymphocytes,
neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, and
mast cells. They are located along lymphatic
vessels. Also called lymph gland.
 Lymphatic System: The tissues and organs
that produce, store, and carry white blood
cells that fight infections and other diseases.
This system includes the bone marrow,
spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic
vessels( a network of thin tubes that carry
lymph and white bleed cells).. Lymphatic
vessels branch, like blood vessels, into all the
tissue of the body.

 Lymphoma: Cancer that begins in cells of the

immune system
 Melanoma: A form of skin cancer that arises in
melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment.
Melanoma usually begins in a mole.
 Sarcoma: Cancerous (malignant) tumors of the

connective tissues are called “sarcomas”.

 Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in

mucus-secreting glands throughout the body. It

can occur in many different places in the body,
and is most prevalent in the following cancer
types: Lung cancer, Prostate cancer,
Pancreatic cancer, Esophageal cancer,
Colorectal cancer